Community Board # 8's Housing Committee held a Housing Forum last night. The moderator of the forum was Civil Court Judge Elizabeth Taylor, and the members of the panel were Housing Court Judge Marian Doherty, Peter Lubell Esq. (who represents landlords), and Howard Baum Esq. of Legal Aid. CB 8 Housing Committee Chairman Steve Balicer thanked the almost 100 people who attended, and thanked his Vice-Chair Patrica Mullen and CB 8 member Paul Ellis Esq. for putting the forum together for the committee. Also in attendance were State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. Both spoke briefly on housing problems, and said to contact the local elected officials if any problems between tenants and their landlords can not be solved.
Judge Taylor introduced the panel members, and then went into the program. The first subject was that of trying to avoid going to housing court. Mr. Lubell spoke from a landlords point of view, while Mr. Baum spoke from a tenants point of view. While both differed somewhat there was agreement by both that the best policy is to resolve any problems without going to housing court. As you will see in one of the photos below Housing Court Judge Doherty has her hands folded as she watches Mr. Lubell speak on the subject. Both lawyers agreed that the judge has to be impartial while hearing the case, and that receipts and other good record keeping needs to be done by both parties.
Housing court can be costly to landlords who have to pay their lawyers, while the matter may take several visits and consume several hours a day on each appearance by the tenant. Judge Doherty said that "here in the forum I can give you advice, but when it comes to my court I must be impartial". She also added that it could be time consuming, and without good record keeping she has no other way to rule on some cases.
Judge Taylor then took several questions for the panel, and again it was said to have good record keeping to be able to have evidence to prove your side of the case. Judge Taylor thanked the panel members and Community Board 8 for having this forum. She also introduced newly elected Civil Court Judge Eddie McShan who was in the audience.
Left to right are Civil Court Judge Elizabeth Taylor, Housing Court Judge Marian Doherty, Legal Aid lawyer Howard Baum, and Landlord Lawyer Peter Lubell.
Below - Judge Doherty gets to say that she must be impartial at the hearings before her.
Assemblyman Dinowitz and Senator Gustavo Rivera talk about a few things before the Housing Forum.
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1 comment:
Wow
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